Monday, December 31, 2012

In the past, when posting an overview of my reading for the year I’d
mention the number of books I had read (175 this year) and my top 10, or
there-abouts, favourite titles. This year I’m going with a different
approach since a lot changed in my reading in the past twelve months.

2012 was the first year during which I received books specifically for
review and, if I’m honest, I have to admit that maybe I went a bit over the top
with the amount of books I requested. Of the 175 books I read 101 were for the
two review-sites I receive copies from. While this did give me the opportunity
to discover titles and authors I might otherwise never have picked up, it also
meant that I was often in a rush to get a certain book read and reviewed by a certain
date. Most of the time this was not a problem but I did find myself feeling
slightly guilty whenever it took me “too long” to get a certain review up and
that did not make for a more pleasurable reading experience. But, we learn as
we go along, and it is my intention to show a bit more restraint when it comes
to requesting review titles next year.

2012 was also the year during which I re-discovered erotic fiction. I
had read books in that genre in my late teens and early twenties but then it
stopped. Not so much because I didn’t want to read those books anymore but more
because I didn’t come across them anywhere and had enough other books I wanted
to read to not go actively looking for them. I have to blame/thank the FiftyShades of Grey phenomena for reacquainting me with the genre. My reviews of
those books will tell you everything you need to know about what I thought
about them. All I want to say about them here is that I am glad that curiosity
made me read them and subsequently encouraged me to find out what else was
available and worth reading in that genre. Of course my voyage of (re)discovery
showed me that in erotic fiction, as in any other genre, there are a few very
worthwhile titles as well as lots that are entertaining and some that are rubbish.
I’m just grateful to have discovered one or two authors of erotica that have
impressed me so much that they are now on my “must read” list.

Below I will mention a few titles and authors that impressed me last
year. Most of the books listed are by authors I newly discovered in 2012. These
are not necessarily the books that scored the highest ratings but rather stories
that will stay with me for one reason or another, characters that touched me as
well as books that I know I will be returning to at some point in the future:

Bring Up the Bodies by Hillary Mantel is the second part in her well
written and fascinating trilogy about Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII.

An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears; the last book I read this
year. This historical mystery completely blew my mind and will stay with me for
a very long time.

Young-Adult Fiction:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: The master of the YA genre
delivered a book that managed to be both heart-breaking and uplifting.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. This book about the Second World War
managed to take me completely by surprise and made me delighted that I had once
again broken my vow to never read about that period again.

Dystopian/Alternative
history/Urban Fiction:

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan. A shocking, thought-provoking and
fascinating story that had me thinking for days.

The Company of the Dead by David J. Kowalski was a very interesting story
about an alternative future and the attempts to correct past mistakes.

Slave and Need by Sherri Hayes: The first two titles in a quartet with a
BDSM theme and very little sexual content. Heartbreaking and thought-provoking
reads.

The Siren, The Angel and The Priest by Tiffany Reisz. These are
extremely well written, explicit and very clever books about characters I
couldn’t help getting attached to. In fact I would pay good money to spend a
day in the company of these characters.

I can only hope that 2013 will be as good a reading year for me as 2012
was.

“When in a Search of any
Nature the Understanding stands suspended, then Instances of the Fingerpost
show the true and inviolable Way in which the Question is to be decided. These
Instances afford great Light, so that the Course of the Investigation will
sometimes be terminated by them. Sometimes, indeed these Instances are found
amongst that Evidence already set down.” – Francis Bacon.

I almost always write my own summaries of the books I read. I’ve decided
to make an exception for this book though; I just don’t think I can do the
contents of this book justice without giving away too much of the plot. So
here’s a copy of the blurb as it appears on the inside sleeve of the copy I
read:

“We are in Oxford in the 1660’s, a
time and place, of great intellectual, scientific, religious and political
ferment. Robert Grove, a fellow of New College, is found dead in suspicious
circumstances. A young woman is accused of his murder. We hear about events
surrounding his death from four witnesses: Marco da Cola, a Venetian Catholic
intent on claiming credit for the invention of blood-transfusion; Jack
Prestcott, the son of a supposed traitor to the Royalist cause, determined to
vindicate his father; John Wallis, chief cryptographer to both Cromwell and
Charles II, a mathematician, theologian and inveterate plotter; and Anthony
Wood, the famous Oxford antiquary. Each witness tells their version of what
happened. Only one reveals the extraordinary truth.”

In November, when I finished “The Prince” by Tiffany Reisz I tweeted
about my frustration about the monumental cliff-hanger the book ended on. I was
delighted as well as surprised to have her reply to my tweet and admit that she
is the queen of the “mind-fuck”. Although I won’t know the exact extend to
which she fucked with her readers’ minds in that book and its two prequels
until I read The Mistress, the fourth and final title in this part of her
“Original Sinners” series, I am inclined to take her word for it. When asked,
she recommended “An Instance of the Fingerpost” as one of the ultimate
“mind-fuck” books she had ever read. This comment, of course, meant that
curiosity got the better of me and I requested the book from my library. All I
can say now that I have finished the book is WOW! This is indeed a book in
which the reader is taken for a ride, given one impression only to have it
demolished in a later part of the book. This book is a work of genius. The
reader is presented with a mystery and subsequently given four different
accounts of the events that lead up to and followed it. The four parts are told
by four different narrators all of whom play a pivotal role in the proceedings.
The four men sharing their stories all share from their own perspective and
with their own interests colouring what they do and don’t share. And all four
men come up with different answers and conclusions. Since only one of our
narrators actually has all available information, only one of them shares the
full story of what exactly has happened and why, and the reader is held in
suspense until the very last page of the book.

What makes this book so incredibly clever is that the author plays a
completely fair game with the reader. He doesn’t cheat and confront the reader
with a lot of new, yet essential, information in the last few pages of the
book. Most of the clues as to what is happening can be found in the first three
accounts. I would defy anybody though to only read those parts and try to come
up with all the right answers for I don’t think it is possible. This book plays
with the reader at every turn and does this in such a way that the book gets
ever more intriguing with each subsequent page; that which appears
straight-forward turns out to be anything but.

As a mystery this book is intriguing, well plotted and completely
engrossing. As a work of historical fiction it is fascinating as well as
plausible, not in the least because most of the characters encountered in the
book did really live at the time the story takes place.

Of course the second half of the 17th century is a
fascinating time to read about even without the mystery this book provides. England is a
country trying to find a balance that will prevent it from descending into
civil war once again and modern science is starting to emerge in a time when
every new discovery still had to be attributed to the greater glory of God and
superstition was still rife. It makes for a wonderful mix of progress and
repression and it was with wonder and an occasional smile that I read about
obviously very clever people with ideas and discoveries that were nothing sort
of genius falling back on their faith to explain what they had produced through
their own intelligence.

I could go on raving about this well written, well plotted and well
executed book, but I will stop myself. I just want to say two more things:

-Read this book if you haven’t already done so! And,

-Thank you Miss Reisz for pointing me in the direction
of this fabulous book!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

“Grown-ups never understand
anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and
forever explaining things to them.”

This is a story told by a man who discovered the truth quoted above as a
child and who continued to view adults as unimaginative creatures even when he
was a grown-up himself.

The narrator of this story drew a rather clever picture when he was six,
a picture that the adults around him unfortunately didn’t understand. Instead
he was advised to give up on his art and concentrate on more practical skills –
on “matters of consequence”-, because
that is what grown-ups are interested in. Years later, after he crashes his
plane in the dessert he meets with The Little Prince who has arrived on earth
after leaving his own asteroid and travelling to other planets. On his travels
the Prince met all sorts of adults preoccupied with things that appear
important to them but have no real relevance when you really think about it; a
king, a conceited man, a tippler, a business man, a lamplighter – the first
person who doesn’t appear ridiculous because he is thinking of something else
besides himself. Once the Little Prince arrives on Earth he really starts
learning lessons about friendship and about what makes certain things and
people unique, even if they look just like thousands of other things and
people:

“It is only with the heart
that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

This is a story about the innocence, wonder and honesty of children and
how we lose that when we grow up and become obsessed with hard facts. It is a
fable telling us to hang on to that innocence, to continue to look at the world
with wonder, to never stop believing in the impossible; to never stop looking
at the world through the eyes of the child we once were. This story shows us
that the things we think we need and treasure – power, money, knowledge – are
not what really matter in life. It is the things we can’t see, the things we
can only feel or believe in, that make our lives worthwhile.

“But the eyes are blind.
One must look with the heart.”

I really wish I could remember how I felt the first time I read this
book. I must have been about ten (?) at the time and that is just too long ago.
All I can say is that the title always stayed with me and that just hearing
someone mention the book would fill me a pleasant, happy feeling not just for
this book but also for my mother, who first told me to read it. And if that
isn’t a good reason to occasionally re-read this book I don’t know what is.

Lulu is the
semi-autobiographical story of a young girl who moves with her mother and
brother from “the dark North” to Charleston
when she’s four years old. From very early on in her life Lulu struggles with
her feelings and the secrets that surround her. The biggest mystery is her
father, who nobody will talk about to her. From the pieces of conversation she
manages to overhear she concludes that he must be crazy and locked up, which
leads to her worrying that she might be like him. And the strong and dark
emotions she sometimes feels seem to make that possibility quite plausible.
Torn between her love for her older brother Harry and the deep jealousy that
can overwhelm her when she thinks about the closeness between him and the
mother who is so very distant with her, Lulu tries to teach herself to hide her
dark feelings away; something she doesn’t always manage. But not everything in
the girl’s life is bad; there is her mother’s half-brother who seems to love
and understand her and her grandmother who is closer to her then she is to her
own daughter.

Set in the 1950’s and
early 60’s we see discrimination, sexual awakening with its consequences and a
rapidly changing world through the eyes of a girl and young woman, desperately
trying to find her own identity and place.

This is a nice coming-of-age
story, but for me it was too short. We are given fragments, snap-shots of a
life without ever being given the full picture. I constantly wanted to know
more; more about Lulu’s feelings and the way in which they changed, more about
her life and the people around her, and more answers to the questions the girl
has. While I enjoyed reading about young Lulu growing up and learning more
about her life, the people in it and the ways of the world, the manner in which
her story was told felt choppy. It is almost as if the author wanted the reader
to feel as frustrated as Lulu does. Like Lulu, the reader is never given enough
information to piece the whole story together and left with unanswered
questions; left feeling a bit frustrated.

Although this is a well
written, easy to read and fascinating story I can’t help feeling that it would
have benefitted from being a much longer novel rather than this rather short
novella. Nobody can ever accuse Nancy
Friday of writing badly, but I can’t help wishing that she would have used her
talents to write more of this story. On the other hand, I now feel the need to go
back and read “My Mother, My Self” again. It has been a very long time since I
read that book and I can’t help feeling that it may contain answers to some
of the questions this book left me with.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

“Life is not measured by
the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” –
Anonymous

Dr. Alexandra Blake is 37 years old, married to a man she hasn’t been
intimate with in years and mother to two children she adores. With her husband
and children away for a week in the Tasmanian wilderness, Alex travels to Sydney to deliver a
series of lectures on her latest research into visual stimulation. After the
first, very successful, lecture she meets up with Dr. Jeremy Quinn, the man she
had a passionate relationship with while in university and theman who opened her eyes, heart and body to
intense and exhilarating feelings and emotions. Years of being apart haven’t
made Dr. Quinn any less attractive and Alex can’t deny that she still feels his
pull. After a few glasses of champagne Jeremy makes Alex an extra-ordinary
proposal. He wants her to submit to him for 48 hours. Two days during which she
will be blindfolded and not allowed to ask any questions. Alex knows that she
can trust Jeremy, and that he would never ask her to do anything she isn’t
capable of, but she also realises that handing herself over to him will mean
hitting and exceeding every single one of her boundaries.

It isn’t long into her 48 hours of blindness before Alex starts to
realise how restrictive the limitations Jeremy has put on her really are:

“I am beginning to realise
how much of human conversation is dependent on questions and visual
indicators.”

But she also has to admit that Jeremy is right when he says that:

“It is really important to
understand how and why you are going though these emotions. It’s all part of
the process. You’ll learn so much about yourself.”

As time passes and Jeremy puts Alex through experience after experience,
constantly stretching her boundaries Alex has to wonder:

“Will I continue this
journey into exploring my personal darkness with him, a journey I have never been
courageous enough to experience until this point in my life?”

But this is about more than just a dirty weekend for two former lovers.
A lot more is at stake for both Jeremy and Alexandra, and this is only the
start of their journey…

I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I started this book
expecting nothing more and nothing less than a straight-forward work of
erotica; some kinky sex, some soul-searching and some more sex. And yes, there
were a lot of descriptions of sexual interactions, but somehow it didn’t feel
as if that was what this story is about. In fact, this is probably the least
enticing bit of erotic fiction I have ever read. The descriptions of everything
Jeremy puts Alexandra through, while fascinating, didn’t make me feel anything,
which can’t be a positive thing when the book you’re dealing with is marketed
as erotica.

On the other hand, I was truly fascinated by the premise of the story. I
can’t say too much about that because it isn’t fully revealed until
later on in the book . I also can’t judge how credible the premise of this story is, but I
have to admit that I really liked the idea and would love for it to be true.

I have an issue with women (or men) having an affair behind their
partner’s back. I can live with multiple partners if everybody involved agrees
to such an arrangement, but I do not like illicit affairs, in real life or in
fiction. And I guess I don’t see lack of an active sex-life, a past
relationship or a combination of these two as valid excuses to betray your
partner. And while Alexandra did spend quite a bit of time reflecting on her
children, and how her behaviour might affect them, her husband didn’t seem to
feature in her concerns at all. That bothered me, even after the author dealt
with the issue in a rather “easy” manner near the end of the book.

Therefore, if I had to judge this book purely as a work of erotica my
grade would probably have been somewhere between 2 and 3. However, since there
was a lot more to this story, and the story was well written and easy to read,
I graded this book higher. And, I’m sure I will read the next book in this
trilogy. Between the fascinating ideas behind the story and the cliff-hanger
this book ended on I feel I don’t really have a choice in that matter.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Zach Gilchrist’s life is falling apart around his ears. His ex-wife is
moving from England to America and
taking their six year old daughter with her, his art gallery is failing and he
can’t bring himself to sell the three pictures he has that might actually save
his business. The three pictures are all by the same painter: Charles Aubrey. A
painter whose life was cut short by the Second World War and whose last few
months alive were shrouded in mystery. A painter who may or may not have links
to Zach’s own family. When Zach is reminded of the book about Aubrey he is
supposed to be writing he decides to travel to Blacknowle on the Dorset coast,
the place where Aubrey spent the last three summers of his life with his
mistress and their two daughters; Blacknowle where the answer to all Zach’s
questions about Aubrey’s life and death may lie.

Mitzy Hatcher has lived in Blacknowle all her life. She once went on a
foreign trip but that was in 1938, when she was sixteen. Since then she hasn’t
left the village where she was born and spent a miserable childhood with her
mother - the gypsy who never showed her any love or affection - and surrounded
by people who didn’t accept her. Happiness did visit Mitzy’s life once. When
she was fourteen Charles Aubrey arrived in Blacknowle for the summer with his
beautiful mistress and their two daughters. Mitzy soon becomes fast friends
with Aubrey’s eldest daughter as well as a regular figure in his drawings and
his family’s life. Over the course of three years Mitzy’s love for this family
that accepts her just as she is, turns into something else, an obsession with
the famous artist. And it is this obsession that will lead to an unspeakable act
with devastating consequences and secrets that will stay hidden for almost
seventy-five years. Secrets that are threatened by the arrival in Blacknowle of
a very determined and curious man. And she is not the only one in the village
staying quiet about certain things.

This was a fascinating story and not one that is easily categorized.
Between the covers of “A Half Forgotten Song” we find a mystery, several love
stories as well as ghosts, obsession and betrayal. Both the story and the way
in which it is told reminded me a bit of the books by Kate Morton. Both authors
present their main character and readers with a mystery, the answer to which
lies buried in the past and is well guarded by those who could resolve it. And
both Morton and Webb know how to surprise the reader. Just when you think you
know the answer to all the questions, they manage to shock you with a
revelation you never saw coming.

All these aspects make this an intriguing story and a gripping read. The
tension in the story is slowly build up, almost imperceptibly, until it reaches
the stage where putting the book down becomes an impossibility because the need
to find out exactly what is going on has gotten too strong.

The characters in this book are vivid and multi-dimensional. Katherine
Webb’s characters are not either good or bad. While it is easy to like some
characters more then others there are no purely hateful or completely blameless
players here, which makes the story all the more interesting. Having said that,
I found it very hard to sympathise with Mitzy to the same extent that the
characters in this book do. Despite her horrific childhood and other
circumstances that might explain or excuse her behaviour I still felt she
should and could have done better and I really didn’t understand the ease with
which other characters in the story were able to forgive her. But that is the
only less than completely positive comment I can make about this book.

Overall I would call this a fascinating and engrossing novel; a
page-turner that will keep the reader enthralled.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

You’d think that after about 44 years of being an avid reader I would
have a pretty good idea of what I like and don’t like. This book proved to me
though that, much to my delight, I’m still able to surprise myself every now
and again. Had you asked me a few days ago I would have told you that I
generally don’t like short stories and prefer to stay away from same-sex
relationships in my books. One seasonal read later I find myself having to
change my mind. The stories in this book charmed and captivated me. Of course I
liked some more than others, but overall I found this to be a wonderful book of
love stories. Yes, all stories are about same-sex couples and all involve
power-exchange – BDSM – relationships in some way shape or form. But reading
them made me realise something I should have known all along; a love story is a
love story, regardless of who or what the people in the relationship are or how
they prefer to express their affection. For me this was an eye-opening and
warm-hearted (or should I say, hot) holiday read. Perfect for the season we’re
in.

Below are short descriptions of the individual stories:

Tree Topper by Jane Davitt: Things are not
going well for Martin and Stan. An insecure Dom and his subversive sub are
heading for a miserable Christmas and possibly the end of their relationship. But
maybe a good talk, some special Christmas presents and a new understanding can
make this into the best Christmas yet.

I liked this story because for once we’re dealing with an experienced
sub and a novice Dom. Most, if not all of the BDSM stories and books I’ve read
so far have dealt with the opposite scenario and it was nice to see the story
from the perspective of a enthusiastic but very inexperienced Dom for a change.

‘Twas the Night by Ava
Marsh: Christmas day 1820 and Percival Owens is on his way to Michael Barlow’s
house. It has been a few months since Percy started visiting Michael. And
although he feels guilty about needing to be with the slightly older man and is
confused about his need to obey Michael’s every single order, he can’t imagine
living without these visits.

Michael is delighted when he hears Percival enter his house. He has been
enjoying his evenings with the young, submissive man. But he wants more.
Dominating Percy is a delight, but not enough. He wants Percy to voice his
needs and wants instead of silently accepting every order. But will Percy be
able to overcome his shame and give Michael the one thing he really wants this
Christmas?

A lovely story about two men getting to know each other better made
extra interesting by the fact that it is set in 1820 when their sort of
relationship was still very illegal.

Fireworks by Katie Porter: Rachel and Emma
have been in a long-distance relationship for two years but this New Year’s eve
will be their last night together. Rachel, the Domme in their relationship is
going to Japan
for two years and Emma will be left behind. It breaks Emma’s heart to think
that she will lose the woman who knows her, her body and her needs so well,
that she will have to find a way to go on without the woman she loves. And
while Rachel dreads saying goodbye to Emma her fears of commitment and
abandonment are far greater than the desire to take Emma with her and start a
full-time relationship. Or are they?

I didn't quite get the motivation of one of the characters in this story, but enjoyed the movement towards the happy ever after.

Candy Caning by L.A. Witt: Stephen and Nate are getting ready for Christmas but it isn't a happy time for them. The prospect of having to visit Nate's family on Christmas Eve and submit themselves to the verbal abuse his mother routinely levels at them has both of them dreading the day. All it takes to make their mood turn festive is for Nate to make a huge decision and an enormous candy cane put to inspired use.

Charming and uplifting.

Submissive Angel by Joey W.
Hill: Robert is owns a toy shop and has been single for a long time when he
finds Ange behind the dumpster in his yard one night. The younger man has
clearly been savagely beaten but still manages to impress Robert with the
broken toy he has mended. What really gets to Robert though is Ange’s clearly
submissive attitude towards him. Six months later it is coming up to Christmas.
Ange has been working for Robert since the day he was found and Robert is
finding it ever harder to stay away from him, despite his reservations about
returning to his old life-style. When Robert at last gives in to the urge to
make Ange submit to him it is an experience better than either of them could
have hoped for; an experience that will bring them together in time for
Christmas.

A lovely, sexy and truly romantic story with elements that could be
supernatural but don’t have to be. Very clever and probably my favourite in this collection.

Open Return by Elyan Smith:
Zach
returns home after fifteen years, back to the place where people knew him as
Hannah before he left. Fifteen years have been a long time, but not long enough
to forget Laura and Scott and the relationship Zach had with them; a
relationship in which he submitted, completely, to their desires. It will take
a while though to figure out whether or not fifteen years have been too long
for the three of them to get back to their earlier intimacy.

This story didn’t work as well for me as the other ones did. I couldn’t
quite get my head around Zach and didn’t get a real feel for the relationship between
him and Scott and Laura.

Ring Out the Old and In the
New by Alexa Snow: It has been two months since Evan was attacked on the
tube and left with a scar on his beautiful face. Two months during with Evan
has wanted nothing except hide in the house he is sharing with Richard, his
partner and Master, while keeping his emotions bottled up and close. But, with
Christmas coming up Richard decides it is time for Evan to start facing the
world again. Evan is reluctant, sure that after what he has been through life
can never be the same, or safe again. But with Richards love, patience and
dominance, Evan might just find a way back to the man he used to be.

A beautiful and loving story.

Chance by Kim Dare: Drew knows he
is in trouble with his Master, Kingsley. He should never have said that his
Master doesn’t do romance, even if it’s true, even if he doesn’t mind. Drew
also knows that tonight he is going to pay for opening his big mouth. Before
the clock strikes twelve and the New Year starts, Drew may lose the Master he
has fallen in love with. Kingsley has been in shock ever since he heard Drew
say that he knows his Master doesn’t do love. What if Drew is with him because
he wants a Master who doesn’t fall in love with his sub? Will admitting his
feelings to Drew cost him his wonderful relationship or might it be the start
of a bright and very happy New Year?

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Lucy Delacourt has a
temporary job she doesn’t like and that barely allows her to pay her bills. The
only thing she has to look forward to on her working days is the lift ride up to
the floor where she works and the gorgeous man she will be able to look at
during those short moments, provided she times her arrival right. When one
morning only Lucy and the mystery man remain on the lift he stops its ascent,
approaches her and brings her to a shocking orgasm, all without Lucy
discovering who he actually is. A few days and one more heated encounter later
that mystery is solved though. The mystery man in the lift is none other than Jeremiah
Hamilton, billionaire CEO of Hamilton Industries and this powerful man has his
sights set on Lucy. She can either become his personal assistant, with a
contract stipulating that she will do “anything he wants” or lose her temp-job.
Out of options, Lucy feels she doesn’t have a choice except to accept his
strange job offer and finds herself, only hours later, in a private jet, on the
way to France
and a charity function. It is in Paris that she
will learn more about her mysterious but oh so sexy boss, but it is also in the
City of Light
that her nightmare begins with the present of a bottle of champagne which will
lead to danger and dead-threats from Jeremiah’s powerful enemies.

I’m not sure what to say
about this book. I guess it was an okay read but I’m afraid it didn’t do a
whole lot for me. Much of the book was too similar to other books I have read
in the past. The broody, mysterious billionaire with issues, his dysfunctional
family, threats against him and those closest to him and the innocent heroine
from a modest background who finds herself in the middle of a world she is
unfamiliar with but who manages to handle it all with unrealistic ease; it is
all a case of been there, done that and would really like a more original take on
the story please.

It is not that the story
is hard to read. There is a lot happening on these pages and some of it is well
written and captivating. Surprisingly for a work of erotic fiction it was the
thriller segments of the story that worked better for me than the erotic
encounters. In fact, the descriptions of intimacy between Jeremiah and Lucy
became repetitive and boring rather quickly, while Lucy in serious trouble had me turning the pages frantically to see how that scene would end.

I am willing to admit
though that I might have enjoyed this book more if this had been my first or
second book featuring a beautiful but troubled billionaire. As it is though,
this book didn’t give me anything original or exciting. I’m getting a bit fed up reading about young women who
have no or very little sexual experience because they are just not attractive
enough only for them to become the subject of everybody's desires as soon as the
billionaire takes them under his wing. The changes Lucy goes through over the
course of just a few weeks just do not make sense and make the story less
relatable rather than more interesting. Yes, I do realize this is an erotic fantasy
and not a work of realism; but that doesn’t mean I want to read about two
dimensional characters I can’t relate to in any way, shape or form. In order to
really enjoy a book I have to care about the characters and their ultimate fate
and I found that just wasn’t the case were Jeremiah and Lucy were concerned.

In short I’m sorry to say
that this just wasn’t the book for me right now. It will probably appeal to
anyone who is looking for anything that will remind them (strongly) of Fifty
Shades of Grey though.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

When Hope and Ryder first met, she got the distinct impression he didn’t
like her on sight and didn’t want her to get the job as innkeeper in his
family’s inn. And Hope isn’t sure she likes Ryder that much either. He’s
stand-offish and sulky; definitely not an easy person to get along with. And
one, rather good, kiss not withstanding, she is definitely not attracted to
Riley.

The resident ghost, Lizzy, has other ideas though and forces Hope and Ryder
into a situation where only another hot kiss will allow them to leave the room
they happen to be in. When a rather unpleasant blast from Hope’s past pays an
unwelcome visit to the Inn it is Ryder to whom
Hope turns when she needs to get her point across. And kissing Ryder
passionately just happens to be the best way to make herself clear.

Slowly the innkeeper and her builder slip into a “thing” neither is
willing to call a relationship. But through more confrontation with Hope’s past
and at last finding out exactly what happened to the love of Lizzy’s life, Ryder
and Hope find that they may be completely different, they are also completely
perfect for each other.

I’m starting to repeat myself but I will say it again: I love Nora
Roberts’ books. I love the way she writes her stories and draws me into the
world her characters live in. It only takes a few pages before I feel as if I
know this world and these characters. I like that she writes strong,
independent female characters who experience real emotions and are not afraid
to show them. I love that she writes realistic yet oh so yummy men. And what is
not to like about a ghostly character as realistic as Lizzy?

What I really appreciate in the romances by Nora Roberts is that she
doesn’t resort to protracted and senseless arguments and misunderstandings.
Yes, her characters may end up in some sort of fight at one point or another in
the story, but they are, always, grown-ups. They fight, storm of, and maybe
sulk for a while but then they deal. They talk to each other, come to
understand each others point of view and get on with life and love. Roberts’
characters respect each other and treat each other as such because:

“You didn’t love and try to
change.”

Too many authors of romances feel the need to create what reads like
false drama or childish behaviour in an, often desperate appearing, attempt to
keep the story emotionally gripping. Not so Nora Roberts. The interactions
between her characters, their friends and the things going on in their lives
are enough to keep the story moving and fascinating. And this is what makes her
stories work for me. Because her characters are and behave like mostly
reasonable human beings I don’t get upset with them, I don’t want to slap them
around for making stupid decisions, and most importantly I don’t want to throw
the book at the wall. I’m just glad to be able to spend time with them and watch
them work their way to the inevitable happy ever after.

I love it!

Just as I love that the Inn, Boonsboro
is real. The characters in these stories may be fictional, the setting isn’t.
The town, the Inn and the bookstore actually
exist. In my dreams I am in a position to cross the Atlantic
and see this wonderful sounding place for myself. In real life I can only hope
that one day it will be possible for me to stay in one of those wonderful
sounding, romantically themed rooms and maybe, just maybe meet a ghost?!

Monday, December 17, 2012

“And I’m still pushing
boundaries, flopping around in water that’s over my head. And here’s the scary
part that I wouldn’t say out loud to anyone…I’m a little addicted to it. I like
my crazy job and my disaster-prone life.”

We are five pages into the book. Stephanie Plum and her friend and
colleague Lula are in Stephanie’s car in a bad New Jersey neighbourhood trying to find a
man who has skipped his bond when they get into an altercation with a desperate
looking young man during which they get shot at. Next thing they know the man
is being mown down by another car and Stephanie’s car ends up being blown up.
Welcome to the madcap world of Stephanie Plum.

Things are looking a bit glum for our Stephanie in this, her nineteenth
adventure. It has been a slow summer in the bounty-hunter world and she’s now a
month behind on her rent and once again without a car and most of the jobs
coming in for her are of the low return variety. That changes when Geoffrey
Cubbin goes missing. Cubbin had been arrested after embezzling five million
dollars from the residents in the retirement home where he worked. Shortly
before his day in court he went into hospital for an operation only to
disappear without a trace shortly after his appendix was removed. If Stephanie
could find this man it would solve all her current financial problems, but her investigation
doesn’t uncover any clues; not about how the man managed to disappear and
neither about where he might be hiding.

Because her money problems are really starting to hurt, Stephanie
accepts a job offer from the very sexy and mysterious Ranger. He needs her to
accompany him to a party because a friend and former army colleague of his is
being threatened, as is Ranger himself. Not entirely sure why Ranger would
think she might make a good bodyguard, Stephanie accepts the job only to find
herself targeted by whomever it is that wants to kill Ranger and his friend.

And this wouldn’t be a Stephanie Plum book if there wasn’t more madness
in the story. From an Hawaiian artefact that appears to interfere with people's
thoughts, to Lula’s insane way of viewing the world and her grandma being
determined to get involved in the case of the missing Cubbin, Stephanie finds
herself with her hands full and her life endangered. And of course there is the
never-ending tug between the two men in her life. She may appear to be all set
to consider a future with Morelli but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t still have
the hots for Ranger. Life with Stephanie Plum is never, ever boring.

This is the nineteenth book in this series by Janet Evanovich and for
those who are completely unfamiliar with the phenomena that is Stephanie Plum
it is a bit hard to explain what exactly the books are about. These are mad,
suspend your disbelief, sorts of mysteries, not to be taken seriously at all.
There are lots of laugh out loud incidents as well as suspense filled moments
and even the occasional emotionally touching scene. Evanovich writes sparkling,
at times very funny, dialogue and her characters come alive on the page even if
it is completely clear that this collection of characters could only exist
inside a very vivid imagination.

Although the books in this series are always easy to read and light
entertainment it has to be said that they are also a bit repetitive. There are
a lot of plot lines that keep on popping up in book after book. At least one of
Stephanie’s cars will blow up, she will find herself unable to choose between
the two men in her life while they appear happy to live with her indecision,
Lula will get up to antics a normal person wouldn’t be able to think up, Stephanie’s
hamster Rex has an impossibly long life-span and her grandma will invariably
find herself in the most ludicrous situations.

Having said that, this is a perfect book to read if you’re looking for
some light entertainment. These stories will take you away to a world that may
look a lot like ours but doesn’t quite function the same way. You will find
yourself smiling while reading this book and occasionally even laughing out
loud. And as predictable as some of the story elements may be, this is a hard book
to put down once you start reading it. If all you are looking for in your book
is an easy and fun escape from the real world you could do a lot worse than
picking up Notorious Nineteen.

Nicholas James has had a thing for his colleague Stephanie Martin for
months now. She’s hot, smart and interesting and by the looks of it completely
uninterested in him. When he finds a discarded note which turns out to be
Stephanie’s wish list he discovers that she is far from disinterested in him.
Luck turns out to be on his side when he pulls Stephanie’s name in the office
Secret Santa draw; this is his opportunity to make Stephanie’s secret wishes
come true while he gets closer to her.

When Stephanie opens the present from her Secret Santa during the office
party she immediately knows who gave it to her and that he must have seen the
wish list she wrote one day during a boring meeting. And although she can’t
deny that Nick is a very attractive man she also knows that he is a player who
doesn’t do serious relationships which means that he is no good for her. She’s
been there, has done that and has no intention of going back there. But, one
steamy encounter with her Secret Santa later she agrees to give him the
opportunity to make all her secret wishes come true. For Nick this means that
he has a short time to prove to Stephanie that he is serious about her and take
away her doubts. Stephanie on the other hand, only sees the deal as a chance to
get the sexual tension between them out of the way.

It soon becomes clear that Stephanie may have to deal with emotions she
wasn’t expecting while Nick may have go further than he thought in order to
convince this woman that he is serious.

This was a charming short love story. Sylvia Day managed to put a lot of
story and character development in only forty pages. The reader gets a real
impression of the two characters and what drives them without the story being
hijacked by long descriptions. In fact, at least fifty percent of the story is
about the intimacy between Nick and Stephanie which is hot and sensual as well
as beautiful and touching. And while it is of course completely unrealistic
that a woman like Stephanie would get over all her reservations concerning a
man like Nick over the course of about four days, it does make for a wonderful,
feel good Christmas story. After all, if miracles can’t happen during the
Christmas period when can we hope for them?

A charming, uplifting and steamy Christmas love story for anyone looking
for about an hour’s worth of romantic and sexy bliss.

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About Me

My name is Marleen. I'm Dutch but have been living in Ireland for well over 15 years now. I have a passion and love for reading and books. Since early 2008 I have been lucky enough to have been working part time in the library in Bailieborough, Co. Cavan where among other things I run the library reading group.
I will read almost anything that has words in it, and post my thoughts on everything I read in this blog:

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In this blog I write my thoughts on every book I read. Some I will have brought home from the library, some will have been bought while others will have been sent to me for review. I do not get paid for reading and reviewing any books and all opinions are mine and mine alone. Whether a book was borrowed, bought or received will be indicated at the top of every review.

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